Nevada City Chinese Lunar New Year Festival and Parade

Having been dark for the past three years due to the pandemic, the Nevada City Chinese Lunar New Year Festival and Parade returns and welcomes the Year of the Dragon, on Sunday, February 25, 2024, 12:00-4:30 p.m.  Chinese New Year Festivals are rare in rural communities, and CATS, along with the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, is proud to present this tenth family-friendly celebration, honoring the early Chinese Gold Rush pioneers and railroad workers of the Sierra. Nevada County was once home to thousands of Chinese during the Gold Rush, and this event honors their legacy. The community parade begins at 12:00 noon from the bottom of Commercial Street, the site of the old Chinese Quarter during the Gold Rush. Revelers should line Commercial Street.  The parade starts at the Robinson Plaza on Union Street (by the Nevada City Chamber office and the large Pelton Wheel), going up Commercial Street, making a left turn down Broad Street, making a right turn down Bridge Street (Bonanza Market), and then onto Spring Street where the Lion and Dragon dancing will take place immediately following the parade.  Revelers may follow the Lions and Dragon from Commercial Street to Spring Street. After their performance, more entertainment will take place at the Miners Foundry, for an afternoon of fun for the whole family!  Free admission.  We thank the Miners Foundry, the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Nevada City, and the Nevada City Arts Council for their collaboration.

Our parade Grand Marshal is Eliza Tudor, Executive Director of the Nevada County Arts Council.  She will be joined by her Board and staff.  Parade units include Chinese ceremonial Lion Dancers and a 72’ Chinese Dragon from Eastern Ways Martial Arts of Sacramento, Grass Valley Taiko drummers, second and third graders from Bell Hill Academy, “Mulan,” and other community entries. Food would be available for sale by Kaliko’s Hawaiian Kitchen and K&P Kickin Kettle Korn at the Foundry. The Foundry Bar will serve up Asian-inspired drinks and yummy desserts! There will be Asian-themed arts and crafts and gifts for sale, a kid’s table, Chinese tea ceremony demonstrations, author and filmmaker Bill George on the Chinese gold rush and railroad history, dragon horoscope tattoos, and more!  We are seeking parade entries, entertainers, vendors, exhibitors, sponsors, and lots of volunteers.  Contact Jeannie Wood at info@catsweb.org